Dental Crowns & Bridges in Richmond
Any time a tooth is badly worn, broken or needs to be extracted, our crowns and bridges can help you put a smile back on your face. Crowns are used for repairing compromised teeth while bridges replace ones that are missing or you plan to extract. They’re also used alongside our dental implants when single or multiple teeth need to be restored.
Crowns for Compromised Teeth
Crowns are a full-coverage restoration that protects the entire area around a tooth. They’re ideal for scenarios where decay, fractures or wear is too aggressive to repair with a small filling. Crowns are also recommended following root canal therapy, as those teeth tend to be more brittle.
A crown can be made of a variety of materials, including porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, zirconia or even gold. The restoration is crafted by hand in a lab, allowing for optimal aesthetics and durability. The preparation and fitting process is phased over two separate appointments about 10-14 days apart.
Dental Bridges Fill in the Gap
Bridges are usually ideal for areas with only 1-2 missing teeth, where the adjacent teeth have signs of existing dental work or wear. But if the neighbouring teeth are still healthy, it may not be appropriate to cut them down. In those instances, a dental implant may be more appropriate. Much of it depends on the personal goals and priorities of our individual patients.
Our patients with a history of recurring tooth decay or lifestyles where they’re predisposed to dental problems tend to respond well to bridge treatment.
Like crowns, our custom bridges can be made of various materials, including solid porcelain or porcelain over a metal base.
Care and Maintenance
Although crowns and bridges don’t decay, they’re still susceptible to everyday wear and tear. If you’re someone who has a tendency to clench and grind your teeth, we recommend sleeping in an occlusal splint to avoid any damage to your restorations.
Additionally, plan to brush and floss around each restoration daily. Flossing does not pull crowns and bridges off. But failing to clean around the edges could allow plaque to eat away at the margins and cause recurring decay (leading to restoration failure).
Plan to schedule routine checkups and we’ll evaluate your dental work to make sure everything is holding up as it ought to. We’ll show you special ways to access hard-to-reach areas that may be difficult to clean on your own.
Any invasive or surgical procedure may carry risks. Before moving forward, it is recommended that you seek a second opinion from an appropriately licensed medical professional.
